The Space Needle is seen as snow flurry clouds surround downtown Seattle last month. The Emerald City is being mentioend as a possible landing spot for a relocated Phoenix Coyotes NHL franchise.REUTERS/Anthony Bolante

Mikkel Boedker #89, Keith Yandle #3 and Adrian Aucoin #33 of the Phoenix Coyotes celebrate after a goal against the Ottawa Senators at Jobing.com Arena on January 24, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. Seattle has been mentioned a s a possible destination for the Coyotes.Norm Hall
/ NHLI via Getty Images

VANCOUVER — The hockey world — at least in the Pacific Northwest — was abuzz Monday morning over the possibility the National Hockey League could find its way to Seattle.

That was the chatter both north and south of the border, after an article appeared in the Seattle Times (and online at seattletimes.nwsource.com) over the weekend, stating that talks between city staff and San Francisco multimillionaire Christopher Hansen about building a new arena near Safeco Field were underway, and that “National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman has expressed a strong interest in placing a team in Seattle, leading to widespread speculation that the financially struggling Phoenix Coyotes could be moved here.”

Based on documents and emails obtained by the newspaper, the Seattle Times reported Saturday that talks about a new arena had begun between the city and Hansen — a Seattle native — as early as June 16.

Hansen has expressed interest in building an arena south of Safeco Field with the hope of bringing a NBA franchise back to Seattle, after the Sonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008, according to the Times.

The Times also stated that the NBA could return to Seattle as early as “next fall” and documents “show the city has been following developments in Sacramento, which is under a March 1 deadline to come up with a viable proposal to build an arena for the Sacramento Kings.”

Aaron Pickus, a spokesman for Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, told The Vancouver Sun the possibility of a new arena, which could fuel even more NHL talk, is still in the preliminary stages.

“Right now, we’re really looking at the information in front of us to see if we’re at a place where we can forward a serious proposal to the city council,” said Pickus, adding he was aware of the buzz about possible NBA and NHL franchises in the Emerald City.

“But we’re just not at that place yet.”

Pickus added the city would not subsidize the cost of an arena unless it could make a profit, as per its 2006 initiative, called I-91, which Seattle citizens approved through a vote.

Rumours of an NHL franchise in Seattle are nothing new. The city has been included in a shortlist of possible destinations the league could look at, as have Kansas City and Quebec City.

However, the reality of Seattle getting a NHL franchise seems mostly contingent on a new arena.

The Coyotes are currently owned by the NHL, and it’s been reported there are three prospective ownership groups willing to keep the team in Glendale and the Jobing.com Arena.

On Jan. 28, an article at ESPN.com quoted Bettman as saying: "There are a lot of people who think Seattle would be a great place to have a team. The Pacific Northwest, the natural rivalry with Vancouver, another team in the Pacific time zone ... but there's no building."

ESPN hockey writer Scott Burnside recently told 710 ESPN Seattle that the city has been “quietly” listed a possible relocation site for the Coyotes, but that a new arena was pivotal.

“It’s appealing on many levels, mostly because of having lost an American franchise in Atlanta … If you have to relocate the Phoenix Coyotes, that’s another hole on the American footprint, which has been so important to Gary Bettman,” Burnside told the Seattle-based radio station.

“And Seattle has a long tradition of supporting hockey at the minor, pro and junior level, so I think it fits on a lot of levels, with the exception that right now there isn’t that sort of magical arena spouting up, which would make a move to Seattle … certainly that much more attractive.”

“I know that the NHL would be loathed to agree to move a team to a city if they aren’t assured there will be an NHL-ready or NHL-style arena in which the team can play.”

Seattle does have KeyArena — originally the Washington State Coliseum and Seattle Centre Coliseum.

Built in 1962 and having undergone renovations in 1995, KeyArena holds up to 17,000 people for sporting events, although there is skepticism about whether it is a suitable venue, even if just on a temporary basis, for hockey.

With a population of roughly 608,000, according to the city’s website, Seattle is home to three major league sports teams — the NFL’s Seahawks, MLB’s Mariners and the MLS Sounders — in addition to the WHL’s Thunderbirds, Seattle University Redhawks and Washington Huskies.

With a roughly three-hour drive between Vancouver and Seattle, an NHL franchise just down the I-5 could spark a new rivalry for the Canucks.

Vancouver has distanced itself in recent years from typical Northwest Division rivalries with the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, while forging new ones with Chicago and even Boston, thanks in large part to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

No one from the Canucks was available for comment Monday. However, Tom Mayenknecht, host of The Sport Market on Team 1040, agreed with Bettman’s comment that geography would greatly dictate a NHL rivalry between Seattle and Vancouver.

“I would describe Seattle as the third best market in North America [behind Toronto and Quebec City] for a new NHL team,” he said, adding the best scenario for hockey in Seattle would be if a NBA team would also come to town.

“The rivalry corridor that would be created between Vancouver and Seattle would be significant.”

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